Gurney Puts Wind in Sails for Top Four Place

Daryl Gurney made it three wins over Michael van Gerwen in succession to keep his top four hopes alive.

Superchin dumped the Dutchman 8-5 and now knows that two more wins will seal his place at the O2 finals later this month.

Gurney said: “I was good at the start but there was slight wind on the stage and that’s why the darts were going in so bent.

“That’s what Michael and I were talking about at the end of the game. For once it actually helped me. I started hitting a lot of trebles and glad to get the win.

“I’ve got a really difficult game against Gerwyn Price next week. I feel Michael, Rob Cross, Gerwyn and James Wade have been the best four players in the league this year. So if I somehow sneak in by someone slipping at the end I’ll be a very happy man.

“If I win the last two I’m at the O2. But of course it’s easier said that done. We are playing against the best players in the world. If you think you are going to get an easy result, you’re in the wrong game.

“It was probably a point more than I deserved tonight. So to get two points is a real bonus. Hopefully now I’ll get in the top four.”

Rob Cross believes the “magic” is back as he roared into the finals of the Unibet Premier League.

The 2018 World Champion smashed Michael Smith 8-1 in Manchester last night to book his place in the top four at the O2 later this month.

Voltage needed just 33 darts to win the last three legs in a devastating display and now believes he is very close to his best again.

Cross said: “It was not too bad. Earlier on I set up well and finished well and Michael missed a few shots and gave me a bit of leeway.

“But the last three legs I finished well, I’m really happy with that. I feel better and a lot more capable than I have for quite a while.

“If I can carry that forward now and keep playing well we could watch a bit of magic again in a final for me.

“It’s good to quality but I certainly can’t relax. I play every game to win and to be honest I want a good run up to the finals night at the O2, you need to keep up the momentum.

“I want to be full of confidence and go and do some damage in London. I’ve got to keep myself sharp.

“If I play at the O2 like I did in the last three legs, I can win the Premier League. But I’ve got to do it more consistently. A bit of fine tuning and I’ll be there.

“I need to start scoring a bit heavier in matches like I did late on against Michael, earlier on he was out-scoring me.”

Peter Wright’s hopes of a last-gasp place in the finals were finally killed off by Mensur Suljovic. The Scot looked dead and buried at 5-1 down.

But he battled back to trail 5-4 but the Austrian held his nerve to win 8-6 and edge closer to making the top four.

James Wade kept up the pace for the battle for the O2 with an 8-4 win over Gerwyn Price in a feisty affair.